Returning Starters Look to Push Princeton Football Ahead in Close Games

After back-to-back 3-7 seasons, Princeton football enters 2026 with the promise of a more experienced core on offense this season and a defense that played some of its best games toward the end of the 2025 campaign.

Wide receiver and punt returner Josh Robinson ’29, the Ivy League Rookie of the Year, said that turning around the Tigers’ fortunes will come down to “finishing and executing” in tight games — a view supported by head coach Bob Surace ’90.

Four of Princeton’s losses last year were by a touchdown or less, and Surace said his staff has been particularly focused on improving the offense’s results in drives that reach the red-zone (inside the opponent’s 20-yard line). The Tigers scored on 30 of 39 red-zone possessions last year, a conversion rate that ranked seventh among the eight Ivies, and nine of the scoring plays were field goals.

Robinson returns as a dynamic threat after breaking Princeton’s freshman records for receptions and receiving yards. Top rusher Ethan Clark ’27 is back as well, along with an offensive line that retains four starters and a frequently used backup (Oyintare Porbeni ’27, Barrett Eddlemon ’27, Andrew Pedersen ’28, Justin Selbert ’27, and Phil Eichelzer ’27). Porbeni and tight end Joey Wassler ’27 are the captains on offense.

While the Tigers graduated both of their top quarterbacks, Kai Colon ’26 and Blaine Hipa ’26, Surace said he sees potential in the four quarterbacks auditioning for the starting role: West Smith ’27, a 6-foot-6 strong-armed passer who saw time in the 2025 season finale at Penn; Eli Friend ’29 and Ty Ciongoli ’29, classmates who’ve yet to see varsity snaps but had “terrific” spring practices, according to Surace; and Wyatt Becker ’30, who the coach called one of the most advanced freshman quarterbacks the program has seen.

The quarterbacks have made a positive impression on Robinson. “I trust all four of them to compete at the highest level,” he said. 

Defensively, last year’s Tigers were at their best in mid-November in a 13-10 loss to Yale, allowing just one touchdown to a Bulldogs team that averaged 29.3 points per game and reached the second round of the FCS playoffs. 

Eight of the returning defensive linemen were in the rotation last year, Surace said, which should provide depth and experience to this year’s squad. The defense will also lean on Chase Christopher ’27, a three-year starter at linebacker and second-team All-Ivy player last year. 

Both defensive captains, Evan Haynie ’27 and Torian Roberts ’27, play in the defensive backfield. Surace said Roberts raises the team’s energy level, much like star linebacker Jeremiah Tyler ’22 did during his time at Princeton. “You need a guy like that, that just comes out to practice and is gung-ho,” Surace said. “It’s somehow that snowball effect, you know, building. Next thing you know, there’s a hundred guys that [have that] energy.”

Schedule notes

Princeton opens its season Sept. 19 on the road at Bryant, which is 2-1 in its first three games, defeating Stonehill and Hampton and losing at Army. The Tigers start their home schedule Sept. 26 against Albany and begin Ivy League play Oct. 3 at Columbia.

The games against Harvard (Oct. 24) and Yale (Nov. 14) are both away this year, so Homecoming will be Oct. 31, when Princeton takes on Cornell.

The Ivy League announced on Sept. 14 that it will add a bye week for all teams beginning in 2027 and will continue to play 10 games (seven league games, three nonconference). Princeton’s 2027 Ivy season will open on Sept. 11 with the Tigers hosting Harvard.

This is the first time in Surace’s 16 seasons that the Tigers will not face a team from the Patriot League, which had to reshuffle schedules in 2026 due to the addition of William & Mary and Villanova. Patriot League teams now play nine league games. Lehigh and Lafayette are on Princeton’s preliminary schedule for 2027.